Vacuum breaker



n May 29, 1945. G, BROWN Re. 22,645

. VACUUM BREAKER I briginal Filed July 24, 1941 INVENTOR M BY m/W/ ATTORNEYS Reissued May .29, 1945 Serial No. 403,795, July 24, 1941;

Application for reissue vAugust 31, 1944, Serial No. 552,111

24 Claims. (Cl. 137-69) This invention relates'to vacuum breakers and more especially to devices for breaking the vacuum, which exists in the ushing `system of a toilet fixture or the like between the fixture and the flush valve that controls the flow of flushing Water thereto. Unless thereV is provision for breaking the vacuum above referred to, water may be drawn from the device being flushed into the Water supply system. Therefore, in many localities, it is mandatory that newly installed flush valves be equipped with vacuum breakers.

Some of the vacuum breakers now in use are embodied in the outlet tail-piece of the flush valve and while they have been satisfactory with respect to the feature ot destroying the objectionable vacuum, they are subject to the objection of being noisy. In the typical vacuum breaker structure, the flush valve tail-piece is provided with a vent which is adapted to be closed during the i'lushingoperation by a closure actuated by the water iiowing through the tailpiece to the device to be flushed, the arrangement being such that. upon cessation of `water flow, the closure is removed from the vent, thereby allowing air to flow into the tail-piece todestroy whatever vacuum may exist inthe flushing system. One requirement of the building codes in the communities requiring the use of vacuum breakers is that the closure be `removed from the vent by gravity and that the vacuum breaker be free of springs.

The flow of water through the flushing system tends to produce a partial vacuum therein and, unless the vent is closed with an air-tight seal,

air will flow into the tail-piece with considerable resulting noise. The structure of some of the vacuum breakers now. on the market is such that the vent is tightly closed only during the period of maximum water flow. and the vent is gradually opened beginning at a time` considerably prior to cessation of water iiow, so that over a considerable period a slight opening exists through which airis drawn into the tail-piecel with resulting noise during such period or until the vent is open to a considerable extent.

An object of this invention is to provide a small and compact gravity-operated vacuum breaker of simple and sturdy construction, low manufacturing cost. 'and having such arrangement of parts that the vent is retained in tightly closed condition. until the flow of flushing water has substantially ceased, thus reducing the noise to a minimum. It may be constructed separately or as part of the flush valve construction. When installed it forms part of the flush valve.

Further objects of this invention include 'the provision of a vacuum breaker which hasta pivotrally mounted closure for the flushing system normally positioned to prevent back flow of water therethrough, said closure being moved to inoperative or' open position bythe force of the flow of flushing water, the vacuum breaker having a separate vent closurey pivotally mounted so as to be forced by gravity to an inoperative or open position, the vent closure beingr engaged and moved or actuated tof'its operative or closing position by the movement of the first-mentioned closure to its open or inoperativeA position, whereby the vent closure is held in closed position throughout the flow of' flushing water. When the flow ofwater ceases, the vent closure moves by the force of gravity to itsV open or inoperative position and engages and forcesv or moves the first-mentioned closure toits operative position to close the flushing system. However, while the ltwo closures actuate'or move eachother, they are independently mounted" in such a manner that, when in closing or operative position, each closure tightly and effectively closes its opening.

In one embodimentgof the vacuum breaker of this'invention, the tail-piece of the flushing valve is formed with an inner conduit having its outlet arranged to effect dischargeA of Water therefrom transversely of the tail-piece in the general direction of the vent. A vent closure and a conduit closure areswingably supported by a common pivot pin and the vent closure is suitably weighted to bias it out of operative position. The conduit closure is'interposed between the vent closure and the conduit outlet in such manner that it is engaged and pushed intol operative position by the vent closure when the latter moves into inoperative position. The conduit closure is actuated bythe discharge of water from the conduit outlet and engages and swings the vent closure into operative or closing position and holds it in such position as longas water flows rthrough the conduit.. The conduit closure is. also provided with an oblique peripheral` ange engageable by water flowing longitudinally through the tail-piece to urge the conduit closure away from the conduit outlet.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

1 is a longitudinal section through a flush valve tail-piece equipped with avacuum breaker embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a. similar section taken at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is asection on the line lI-II of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one element of the vacuum breaker;

Fig. 6 and Fig. '1 are perspective views of elements, and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of still another element.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the tubular tail-piece I of a flushing valve has a lower tubular portion II of slightly larger diameter than the remainder, resulting in the formation of an external shoulder Ila. The enlarged portion II of the tail-piece is provided with a vent opening or aperture I2 formed by depressing a circular portion of the Wall thereof and stamping or cutting out a vcircular section. The tail-piece preferably is formed of seamless tubing and the vent or aperture I2 is formed by the use of tools commonly used to produce an aperture having an inwardly projecting coined or perfectly fiat edge (Fig. 1). A tubular conduit or sleeve I3 is supported within the 'tail-piece Ill by means of bayonet and slot joints I4. The upper edge portion I 3a of the conduit I3 is preferably made slightly out of round or eccentric so that when conduit or sleeve I3 is in place it engages the inner surface of the upper portion of the tailpiece with sulicient friction to prevent disengagement of the bayonet joints.

The lower portion I3b of sleeve or conduit i3l is of less overall diameter than its upper portion 'and it extends downwardly within the larger portion II of the tail-piece, and, of course, is less in diameter than said larger portion. This lower portion I3b is shaped in the form of a curved or deflected spout having two opposed substantially flat side walls or faces I connected and defined at one end by a relatively short and substantially flat face wall or face I6 and at the other end by the substantially longer and curved or arcuate wall or face I1. The lower end of the conduit` I3 is, therefore provided with a discharge opening I 3c lying vin a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tail-piece and facing or opposing the vent I2.

The flat wallorface I6 is'provided with a depression I 8 (Fig. 5) of suitable conguration to receive a` pin I9 having a central loop or eye 20 (Fig. 8). Thevpin I9 is held in the recess I8 by a rivet 2l which passes through the Wall I6 and the loop or eye 2o. A` conduit closure 22 (Figure 6) is provided with oblique arms extending upwardly from the body and terminating in outstanding lugs 23 provided with slots 24 to receive the ends of the pin I9 to support the closure 22 both for swinging movement about the pin I9 and for movement relative thereto. This construction` permits closure 22 to lt and adust itself tightly upon the end of the outlet of conduit I3. The closure 22 is provided with a flange 22a which projects obliquely from the rim of the lower portion thereof and which corresponds to and overlies the entire end edge of wall I1 and a substantial part of the end edges of walls I 5. Each wall I5 is provided with recesses 25 to receive the lugs 23. The lugs 23 are offset from the plane ofthe main portion of the closure 22 in `such manner that the closure 22 lies fiat against the end edge of the conduit outlet with the pin I9 arranged centrally of the slots 24.

Aclosure for the vent opening I2 consists of a flat disc-like plate 21 ('Fig. '1) of the proper size the ends of the pin I 9. When in assembled po sition plate 21 overlies closure 22 and the lugs 29 overlie the lugs 23. An annular gasket 3| of rubber or other suitable sealing material is attached t0 the plate 21 through the medium of flanged disc 32 fastened to the plate 21 by a rivet 33, the right-hand end or head 33a of the rivet being rounded and extended suliciently to engage the face of closure 22, and having a universal bearing thereagainst. A weight member 34 is attached to the portion 28 of the plate 2'! and biases or normally tends to move the plate 21 toward the closure 22 to move the latter into engagement withv the outlet end of the conduit I3. The plate 21 is thus supported by and on the pin I9 both for rotary movement about the pin and for sliding movement relative to the pin due to the length of slots 3D in lugs 29, thereby permitting plate 21 and its attached gasket to adjust and t itself tightly upon the edge of vent opening I2 and to close the same.

A tubular extension 35 with an outwardly flared upper end abuts against the lower end of the tail-piece IQ and forms a continuation thereof. Extension 35 is held in place by a tubular member 36 having a lower portion tightly iitting and soldered to the lower end of portion II of the tail-piece IIJ and an inwardly directed flange 31 engaging the outwardly flared end of the extension 35. The main part of the tubular member 36 is of substantially greater diameter than the portion II of the tail-piece and extends around the same and up to a plane above the vent opening I2, and thus a chamber 36a is provided on the outside of the lower part Il of tail-piece I9. A cap or cover 38 is carried by the upper portion of the tail-piece II) and rests upon and is supported by the shoulder IIa, the cap being of greater diameter than the tubular member 36 and having a downturned flange to overlie the upper edge thereof, in spaced relation thereto. Thus, the chamber 33a is always in communication with the atmosphere.

Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing show the arrangement of parts when there is no water flowing through the vacuum breaker. Under such conditions, the closure 22 is held in contact with the outlet or discharge end of the conduit or sleeve I3 because the plate 21 is biased or forced into such position by the weight 34 and the vent I2 is therefore open. Flow of water through the tail-piece and conduit causes pressure to be applied to the closure 22 to swing it, together with the plate 21, clockwise to seat the gasket 3! on the rim of the vent opening I2, thereby preventing escape of water through the vent. The direction of flow of the main portion of the stream is such as to force the closure 22 away from the outlet of conduit I3 and such action of the water is supplemented by the reaction between downwardly iiowing water and the flange 22o: of the closure 22. In swinging to open position the closure 22 engages the head 33a on the plate 21 to move said plate to seat the gasket 3l and` upon the plate 21 coming to rest, the clo sur@ 22 rocks on the head 33a to bring the left endsof the slots 24 into engagement with pin I9, thereby constituting the closure a second class lever by which approximately double the force of the water acting against the ange 22a is applied'to'the plate' 2.1 through: the head33a.. tomaintain the-gasket $1 seated; Thefgaslietlfv produces a'n air-tight seal for i the vent' opening I! due to the planularsurface ofthe'edge of the vent opening and also dueto the fact? that' the platev 21 is self-adjusting by reason of itslloo'se pivotal mounting. The plate 21 and gaskety 3l are maintained in operative position, that' is', in vent-closingfposition, until flow of Water'through the conclut has practically ceased, because they action of the transversely flowing waterI in com is'suilicient to overcome thelbiasing eiect ofthe weight 3l even with a comparatively slight flow of weten When the closure 21sta'rts to unseat, itv unseats quickly, therebyminimizingl the noise or whistle resulting from the inrush of air through a slight openingA under the iniiuence' of vacuum existing within the tail-piece. The unseating of the closure21 breaks anyl vacuum'that may exist in the tail-piece, thereby preventing any rearward liquid flowthrough'the tail-piece.

The pin'and slot connection for the two closures permits arrangement ofthe pivot pin nearer the axis of the tail-piece than would,l otherwise be the case, thereby reducing to a minimum thenecessary diameter of the tail-piece portion Il. Also, the pin and slot arrangement" permits accurate seating of both the closure 22 and the gasket 3| since a certain amount of' self-adjust'- ment is permitted; The arrangement'of'the Divot pin also provides su'l'cient clearance for the weight 34 that it may be Wholly contained'within the tail-piece rather than project through the vent, as is the' case with previous devices.

It is to be noted that the inside head 33a of the'rivet 33 is of substantial size and rounded and, therefore, provides a universal bearing or joint with whichA the at plate 22'engages. This plate 22 is the conduit closure and this vuniversal bearing is within the confines of the peripheral edge'of the fiat plate 2T which provides the closurev for the vent opening I2. This universal bearing construction permits `suflicient latitude of movement. so that erticient` and' secure-seating'of c the parts-is always accomplished. l

While this inventionhas been described' as be'- ingy mounted in the tail-piece, it is to be understood that itcan be readily adapted-to or built' as an integral part of` the flush valvefconstruction with the extension 35 serving vas a.l tail-piece.

I claim:

1. A device of. the character described, including, in combination, a ushing valveconstruction having a vent opening, avconduit insaid con-y struction. terminating in an outlet directed toward said vent` opening, a pivotally supported conduit closure, a vent' closure pivotally sup'- ported independently of said conduit closure, common pivot means. for pivotally supporting both said closures independently andgravity-ac` tuated means tending to swing saidvent closure out of operative or closingposition, and Said conduit closure into operative or-closingzposition.

2.. In the. combinationA accordingV to claim 1. said vent opening characterized. by having its edge terminating ina. planulai1 surfaceA` within said valve construction.

3. A device of the character'described, includ-` ing, iii-combination, a iiushing valve construction having a vent opening, a conduit in said valveterminating in an outlet, a conduit closure, a vent closure, separateextensions for each of; said closures, said extensions each having: aV slotg. a pivot pin supported by saidconduit.andzpassingA ill) mmugny au of sani.I slots, and. gravityeactuatea;

means tending to swing said vent closure out 'of' operative position` and said conduit closure into operativeposition';

4... In. the. combinationl according'to claim. 1,

said conduit closure characterized by a flange projecting. obliquely and outwardly from a portionofits periphery.

5; In` the combination.l according to claim 3,

r said` vent opening characterized: by having its edge. terminating in. a planular surface within sai'd1valve construction.

6. In the' combinationV according to claim 3, saidcondui't' closure characterized by a flangel projecting. obliquely and outwardly from a Dortion of its. periphery.

'7. In the combination according to claim l, saidr vent'opening characterized. by havingy its edge; terminating in a planularv surface within. said valve construction and said conduit closure characterized by a flange projecting obliquely and. outwardly from aportion of its periphery;

8. In the combination according toclaim 3, said vent opening characterized byy having its edge terminatingl in a planillar surface Within said valveconstruction and said conduit closure. characterized by a flange projecting obliquely. and outwardly -frcm a portion of its periphery.

9; A device of thefcharacter described, including, in combination, aflushing.- valvetail-piece having'a vent openingi a conduit .in said tail-piece.-

terminating-'in an outlet oblique'totheftailepiece axisfand facing said vent opening, aconduit closure, a ventvclosure, separate extensions for each of said closures angularly related to said closures, said extensions each having a slot, common pivot means supported on said conduit andarranged in. all. of said slots to support saidy two closures from. acommon axis of rotation, and av weight mounted on. said vent closuretending to swing saidvent closure into engagementwith said cone duit4 closure to. move said vent closure out of ory erative or closing position and said conduit closure into l operative4 orl closing position.

10. In. the combination according toelaiml 9', saidvent openingcharacterized by having its edge terminating in a planular surface withinsaid tailpiece,

l1. In the combination according to claim 9, saidconduit closure characterized by a flange projecting obliquely and outwardly from a'portion of its periphery. r

12. In. the combination according to claim 9,

said. vent closure characterized by having the weight mountedthereon wholly contained within said .tail-piece.

13. A. device of the clfiaracterr described, including, in. combination, a flushing valve tailpiece having a vent opening, the edge of which terminates in a planular surface within said tailpiece, .a conduit in said. tailpiece terminating in an outlet.. opening. obliquely to the tail-piece axis and facing said.vent, a conduit closure, a. vent closure, separate extensions for each of said elo-- suites angularly related to said closures, said ex? tensions eachhaving. a slot, common pivot means supported on said. conduit andarranged in all of said slots to support said two closures from a common axis ofzrotation, an annulus of resilient material forming a part of the vent closure and beinglarranged to engagethe edge'of the vent opening, and a weight mounted on said. vent closure tending to swing said vent closurel into engagement with said conduit closure to move'said vent closure out of operative or closing'position and in combination, an element having a vent opening in communication with the atmosphere, a conduit in said element having a discharge opening directed toward said vent opening, a closure member for the discharge opening of said conduit and a closure member for said vent opening, pivot means upon which said closures are independently mounted for swinging movement, each closure also having slidable movement `with respect to said pivot means, one of said closures being provided With a weight, and said closures having portions in contact with each other Whereby the closures will be moved by gravity from one position to another when the il W of fluid through the conduit ceases.

16. A device of the character described for use with a flushing valve construction, including, in combination, an element having a vent. opening in communication with the atmosphere, a conduit.

in said element having a discharge opening directed toward said vent opening, a closure member for each of said openings, said closures being f independently mounted for swinging movement upon the same pivot means and so mounted as to have slidable movement with respect to-said pivot means, said vent closure being provided with a weightt-ending to move said closure from one pod sition to another, said closures having portions in contact with each other whereby when uid passes through the conduit it will-force the conduit closure off its seat and the vent opening closure on its seat, and when the flow of fluid ceases the weight will cause the vent closure to move from its seat and force the conduit closure against its seat.

17. A device of the character described, including in combination, a ushing valve tail-piece having a vent opening in communication with the atmosphere, a conduit in said tail-piece having a discharge opening directed toward said vent opening, a closure member for the discharge opening of said conduit and a closure member for said vent opening, said closures being independently mounted for swinging movement upon the same pivot means and so mounted as to have slidable movement with respect to said pivot means, said vent closure member being provided with a round headed element Within the periphery of said discharge opening closure adapted to engage the outer face of the conduit closure element to provide a universal bearing for one of these closures with respect to the other.

18. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a flushing valve element having a vent opening, a conduit in said element terminating in an outlet directed toward said vent opening, a pivotally-supported conduit closure,

a pivotally-supported vent closure, commonl pivot means from which both said conduit closure and said vent closure are pivotally supported and on which said closures may rotate jointly and severally, and gravity-actuated means tending to swing said vent closure out of operative or closing position, and said conduit closure into operative-or closing position,

19. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a cylindricalelement havranged within said element, said ing a vent opening characterized by having its edge terminate on a planularsurface within said element extending substantially parallel to the axis of said element, a removable conduit arconduit having a portion of reduced cross section, said reduced portion having attened sides and terminating in an outlet having its edge on a planular surface within said element extending at an angle with said axis, said outlet facing said vent opening, being spaced `therefrom and lying substantially on a level therewith, a vent closure and a conduit closure movable in the space between said vent opening and said conduit outlet and freely rotatable about acommon axis of rotation arranged above the` space between said vent opening and said outlet, said axis vbeing so positioned that in one position of rotation said conduit closure will seat on said conduit outlet edge while said vent closure yis unseated and in another position of rotation said vent closure will seat on said vent'edge while said conduit closure is unseated, pivot means for providing said common axis vof rotation, and a weight supported by one of said closures to maintain normally the rst of said .named positions of rotation of said closures, said closures being displaceable about said common axis -of rotation to efiect the second of said named positions of rotation by the/forces of the outward passage of fluid from said outlet acting on said conduit closure whereby said vent closure seals said vent opening untilsaid fluid passage substantially ceases. v

20. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a cylindrical flushing valve element having a vent opening, characterized by having its edge terminate on a planular surface within said element extending substantially parallel to to the axis of said element, a removable conduit in said element, said conduit having a portion of reduced cross section, said reduced portion terminating in an outlet oblique to saidelement axis facing the said vent opening and lying substantially on a level therewith, a conduit cloi sure and a vent closure rotatable freely about a common axis of rotation so arranged that in one tain normally the first of said position of rotation said conduit closure will seat on said outlet, and in another position of rotation said vent closure will seat on said vent edge, pivot means mounted on said removable conduit for providing said common axis of rotation, and a weight mounted on one of said closures to mainnamed positions of rotation, said closures being displaceable about n said common axis to effect the second of said positions of rotation by the forces of the outward passage of f'luid from said conduit outlet whereby said vent closure will seal said vent opening.

21. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a iiushing valve element having a vent opening, a removable conduit in said element, said conduit having a portion of reduced cross section, said reduced cross section terminating in an outlet oblique to the element axis and facing said vent opening, a conduit closure, a vent closure, pivot means mounted on said`removable conduit and slot means in association with said closures and conduit for pivotally supporting'said closures with respect to said vent opening and outlet, and a weight mounted on one of said closures tending tomove said vent closure out of operative or closing position and said conduit closure into operative or closing position, said two closure members being movable as a :unit about said -pivot means. l

'22. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a flushing valve construction having a vent opening, a conduit in said construction terminating' in an outlet directed toward said vent opening, a pivotally supported conduit closure, a vent closure pivotally supported independently of said conduit closure, common pivot means for pivotally supporting both said closures independently, said vent closure being mounted to swing under gravity out of vent closing position, and gravity actuated means tending to swing said conduit closure into closing position.

23. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a flushing valveconstruction having a vent opening, a conduit in said valve terminating in an outlet, a conduit closure, a vent closure, separate extensions for each of said closures, said extensions each having a slot, a pivot pin supported by said conduit and passing through g all of said slots, said vent closure being mounted l to swing under gravity out of vent closing position, and gravity actuated means tending to swing said conduit closure into closing position.

24. A device of the character described, including, in combination, a flushing valve element having a vent opening, a conduit in said element terminating in an outlet directed toward said ventv opening, a pivotally-supported conduit closure, a pivotally supported vent closure, common pivot means from which both said conduit closure and said vent closure are pivotally supported and on which said closures may rotate jointly and severally, said vent closure being mounted to swing under gravity out of vent closing position, and gravity actuated .means tending to swing said conduit closure into closing position.

GREGORY BROWN. 

